Friday, December 24, 1999
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Friday, December 24, 1999 |
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Riot-hit migrants’
woes unabated CHANDIGARH, Dec 23 — The riot-hit migrants, who moved to Punjab in the wake of the happenings in 1984, continue to nurse their wounds, both physical and psychological. Lecturers wait for appointment letters BATHINDA, Dec 23 — Dr Rajinder Singh, a resident of the state, has been running from pillar to post for the last two years without success to get his appointment letter of lecturer in biology in a government school after he was selected for the post of the department selection committee on November 26, 1997. |
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DIET students burn
CM’s effigy ROPAR, Dec 23 — The students of the local District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) and unemployed ETT students today burnt effigies of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, in front of the mini secretariat here. Textile technology to be
‘upgraded’ Floor
rates of ST to ‘benefit state’ Arrangements
for mela complete Kribhco
funds coops’ social work Zonal
festival ends at Samana college Horticulture
to get boost in millennium Directive to Punjab on class IV
staff wages Probe
sought into emigration scam ‘Summon
Baba Kashmira Singh at Takht’ |
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Riot-hit migrants’ woes
unabated CHANDIGARH, Dec 23 — The riot-hit migrants, who moved to Punjab in the wake of the happenings in 1984, continue to nurse their wounds, both physical and psychological. They still face problems. Their unattended woes have forced the Punjab Sikh Danga-Peerat Society, a registered organisation, to make yet another appeal to the Prime Minister for redressal of their grievances. The society president, Mr Surinder Pal Singh, relates the present cry for attention to the difficulties arising out of dealings with the banks and financial institutions in respect of such migrants, who to resuscitate their lives had to venture into commerce and industry, of course, at a small-scale level. Rootless and starved of money, the migrants had no way but to opt for taking loans from banks and financial institutions to make both ends meet. And thereby hangs the tale of their woes. When the going was pretty tough, between 1984 and 1992, the victims borrowed money to start life from scratch. But given the formalities and financial lending intricacies most of the migrants, who ventured into small industrial activity or commercial entrepreneur, soon found to their dismay that what to speak of interest repayment of even principal amount itself had become difficult. Thanks to the Supreme Court which asked the government to formulate a scheme: Central interest subsidy scheme for the riot-affected borrowers. This was in response to a petition filed before it. According to Mr Surinder Pal Singh, the scheme envisaged for the reduction of rate of interest to just 1 per cent (simple interest), waiver on penal interest and principal amount; liberal rehabilitation and rescheduling of the payment of interest etc. In respect of all identifiable “deserving” cases the scheme was to be implemented by banks and the financial institutions. The Government of India was to reimburse the banks in lieu of such concessions. But given the wont of the banks and the financial institutions, the woes of the borrowers multiplied and no relief came their way. The lending institutions took advantage of the scheme only to ensure their own recoveries and dues. No institution either bothered about the rehabilitation and rescheduling or rephasing the return of money. The scheme and the Supreme Court directives were so interpreted and later circumvented that even basic relief was denied. The banks bit deep into the borrowers. Mr Jagjit Singh, who is one of the affected migrants, has offered a solution in the detailed memorandum which the society has forwarded to the Prime Minister in the hope that action would be initiated from the top to give succour to the migrants. The society in its memorandum refers to the government decision on yet another commission to go into riots of 1984. It has welcomed that and hoped in the same spirit steps would be taken to give relief to migrants into small scale units and commercial activities. The solution suggested is that a proforma be sent to all banks and financial institutions to get to the bottom of the issues involved. Even a format has been suggested. Mr Jagjit Singh says responsibility has to be fixed on those officials who on the one hand have sanctioned waiver and yet have denied the relief due to borrowers. All cases pending before the Debt Relief Tribunal must be withdrawn till a rehabilitation package is implemented for the riot victims. A one-time settlement of riot-affected borrowers be offered at the rate of 1 per cent interest up to the date which was stipulated by the Supreme Court. Referring to the data
required to be collected to know the basic facts the
following suggestions have been made: 1) whether the
scheme was displayed on the notice boards of the banks
(none of the banks did so); 2) how many rehabilitation
packages were given? (none of the migrants has been
offered this); 3) number of complaints and grievances
filled by borrowers and disposal thereof, (harassment
continues and no complaints were responded to); 4) number
of cases filed before debt Recovery tribunal related to
riot victims who have borrowed money (in most of cases
the banks even after getting claims from the RBI went
into filing of cases before the DRT); 5) when was the
subsidy actually collected? (the scheme envisaged subsidy
be credited as on March 31, 1992 and accounts were to be
recast to arrive at the current liability. No bank
credited this subsidy on various date ranging from
1994-98); 6) what is the rate of interest charged with
effect from March 31, 1992? (banks have charged high rate
of interest and not waived penal interest); 7) how much
penal interest has been debited to affected borrowers?
(despite instructions to the contrary all banks and
financial institutions have charged penal interest; and
8) how many units operated by riot-affected borrowers
have been taken over by the financial institutions?
(rather than offering rehabilitation facility as
stipulated in the scheme, the banks and institutions have
resorted to overtaking units under Section 29). |
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Lecturers wait for appointment
letters BATHINDA, Dec 23 — Dr Rajinder Singh, a resident of the state, has been running from pillar to post for the last two years without success to get his appointment letter of lecturer in biology in a government school after he was selected for the post of the department selection committee on November 26, 1997. Dr Rajinder Singh is not an isolated case who has been suffering due to an apathetic attitude of the authorities concerned. There are at least 48 candidates who were selected about two years ago, but are still waiting for their appointment letters. The state Education Department authorities, however, have issued appointment letters to 18 women candidates who were selected along with male candidates allegedly by violating the basic principle of dividing the posts in equal numbers among the male and female categories as published in the advertisement, which appeared in newspapers. Official sources said 70 candidates belonging to all categories were selected for appointment as lecturers in Biology in government school on November 26, 1997, following an advertisement published on October 18, 1996. The candidates for these posts were interviewed by the departmental selection committee between June 7, 1977 and August 7, 1997. The sources said fed up with the apathetic attitude of state Education Department authorities, some of the candidates who were selected had started doing petty jobs to make both ends meet. Some of the candidates had crossed the age bar prescribed for recruitment in government jobs in the state while waiting for their appointment letters. Mr Rajesh Kumar, one of the candidates, who were selected, told TNS that the selected candidates had been making rounds of the office of the DPI (Schools), Chandigarh, for getting their appointment letters, but failed to elicit any positive response from the authorities concerned. The sources said out of the 70 candidates who were selected, 16 belonged to the male general category, 31 to female general category, 13 to SC category, two to Backward Class category, one to handicapped category and seven to the dependants of ex-servicemen category. The candidates alleged
that the state Education Department authorities had
issued appointment letters to these candidates who were
interviewed for other subjects along with them. They said
vacancies of lecturers in biology still existed in
government schools. |
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Badal keeping watch on MLAs PATIALA, Dec 23 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today said the Shiromani Akali Dal was keeping a watch over the activities of its legislators and action would be taken against those violating party discipline. The Chief Minister was answering a query with regard to the presence at a Tohra group function at Chamkaur Sahib of two legislators, Mr Ranjit Singh Chhajalwadi and Mr Baldev Singh Khiala, at the residence of a senior Akali leader, Mr Manmohan Singh Bajaj. Mr Badal was here to inaugurate the first Central South Asian Gymnastic Championship after which he also attended a function held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Punjabi newspaper Charhdi Kala. Mr Badal said disciplinary action against errant partymen was an ongoing process and no time period could be fixed for it. He said the candidate for the Nawanshahr seat would be announced after taking local Akali workers into confidence. Regarding a poll alliance, he said anyone against the Congress was welcome to join hands with his party. He said an inquiry was being conducted into the lathi charge on students at Ropar. The Ropar district police chief was conducting the inquiry. Action would be taken for lapses only after submission of the inquiry report. Earlier, while inaugurating the gymnastic championship the Chief Minister said the government would attempt to take sports to the villages by using modern technology and competent coaches. He also announced a grant of Rs 3 lakh for the Punjab Gymnastic Association. The association President, Mr Sudhir Mittal, said special gymnastic centres were being created in Gurdaspur and Mohali to propagate the sport in the state. Later, addressing a
function at the office of Charhdi Kala, the Chief
Minister lauded the efforts being made by the
organisation in the field of Punjabi journalism. The
Charhdi Kala Editor, Mr Jagjit Singh Dardi, demanded that
attention be paid to the Punjabi press by the government
as it would be severely threatened by the entry of other
publishing houses in the state. The legislators, Mr Ajaib
Singh Mukhmailpur, and Mr Balwant Singh Shahpur, were
also present. |
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DIET students burn CM’s
effigy ROPAR, Dec 23 — The students of the local District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) and unemployed ETT students today burnt effigies of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, in front of the mini secretariat here. They also took out a protest march against the government. The protesters were demanding release of all 78 students and withdrawal of cases registered against them on December 18, scrapping of the ‘sikhiya karmi’ scheme in the state and filling of vacant posts of ETT teacher in government primary schools. A large number of policemen led by a DSP also followed the protest march. The protesters, carrying placards like “Ropar administration murdabad”, also raised slogans against the police. At the site where the effigies were burnt, the students also held a rally which was addressed by various leaders, including Mr Tarlochan Singh Rana, District Secretary of the CPM; Mr Lal Bahadur, District Secretary of the CPI; and Mr Kirpal Singh Bhangu, General Secretary, Punjab Secondary Teachers Union. Earlier, the students also staged a dharna and held a rally in front of the DIET building here, where they were addressed by Mr P P Singh, Secretary, Thermal Coordination Committee; Mr Sher Singh, a TSU leader; Mr Satish Kumar Khamano and Mr Gurcharan Singh Alowal, both local student leaders from the DIET, and Mr Jasbir Singh Kajoli, President of the ETT Unemployed Teachers Union. A deputation of the DIET
students also met Mr Tota Singh here today. It also
submitted a memorandum to the minister and demanded
release for all arrested students and withdrawal of cases
against them. It also asked the Minister to scrap the
‘sikhiya karmi’ scheme. |
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Textile technology to be
‘upgraded’ LUDHIANA, Dec 23 — The Government of India has created a Rs 25,000 crore fund for technology upgrading of the textile industry. Announcing this here today, Mr Syamal Ghosh, Secretary to the Union Ministry of Textiles, told a seminar on "technology upgradation fund scheme for textile industry" held there today under the auspices of the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation, that the figure of Rs 25,000 crore was only an "indicative figure." If need be, the government would increase the fund to ensure that shortage of finance did not come in the way of upgradation of technology in the textile industry. He said so far 188 applications with total project cost of Rs 4400 crore had been received, of which 108 had been sanctioned. But the actual disbursement of funds had so far taken place only in 37 cases. Mr Ghosh said the awareness about the scheme was minimal in cities like Ludhiana. Mr S.S. Brar, Managing Director PSIDC, spoke about various features of the scheme while Mr B.C. Khatua, Textile Commissioner highlighted the benefits available to the industry under the scheme. Others who spoke were Mr
S.P. Oswal, Mr T.B. Ananthanarayanan, Mr P.E.S.
Vidyasagar and Mr Vinod Jain. |
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Floor rates of ST to
‘benefit state’ CHANDIGARH, Dec 23 — The Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh has said that all states and union territories will have to implement the floor rates of sales tax approved by the Standing Committee of Finance Ministers of various states. The minister said yesterday the committee of six finance ministers belonging to Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat and Karnataka was constituted at a meeting of Chief Ministers and finance ministers in Delhi on November 16. The Central Government had the mandate of delay grant-in-aid or stop assistance to the states and union territories which would not implement the committee recommendations. Punjab and Haryana, which were suffering a huge loss as regards sales tax would be a major beneficiary of the decisions of standing committee in this region. Due to low tax rates in Chandigarh, almost all companies and firms have shifted their headquarters to this city for billing the sale of goods produced by them. But as the minimum floor rates for various goods and vehicles will be the same in Chandigarh following the implementation of the standing committee’s decision with effect from January 1, 2000, the privilege enjoyed by firms and companies in the past would come to an end. Captain Kanwaljit Singh
said there would be no tax holiday for new industries and
competition among various states to extend maximum
benefits on the tax front to industries would come to an
end. |
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Arrangements for mela complete FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 23— The district administration has made all arrangements for the three-day annual Shaheedi Jor Mela, which begins from December 26 to 28 in memory of two younger Sahibjadas of Guru Gobind Singh, who were bricked alive here. Lakhs of people from all over the country and abroad come to pay their obeisance at the mela. The occasion is used particularly by the ruling party to highlight their achievements and declare their priorities. Earlier, the mela was purely religious but not now. The controversy over the shifting of the site for the political conference of the SHSAD was over due to the timely intervention of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. The SAD conference will be organised in front of the gurdwara, the traditional Akali Dal stage, from where Mr Badal and the entire Akali leadership will address, Whereas, for the first time Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra will address from another stage. His party has been allotted the site next to the railway crossing and adjoining his stage will be SAD(A) stage, which was his alliance partner during the previous Lok Sabha elections. Opposite to both these stages will be the Congress stage. Dr Sikandar Singh, President of the district Congress committee, said Ms Priyanka Gandhi was expected to address the conference, whereas Mr Rajesh Pilot, other central leaders and the entire Punjab leadership would address the conference. Earlier, the main attraction of the mela used to be the light and sound programme “Sirhind ki Dastan” by the Public Relation Department, which educated the people about “Saka Sirhind”. But this year doubts persists over the programme as the government had not sanctioned its staging, so far. Sources revealed that the financial crunch was also one of the causes of the delay. If it happened, then it would be for the first time that the programme would not be organised. Mr Sanjeev Gupta, DIG, Patiala Range, who was here to supervise the security arrangements for the mela,said this time less force would be deployed. He said this time the force from Patiala Range only would be deployed, whereas earlier it used to be from the entire state. He said subways along roads so that traffic may continue during the mela uninterrupted. Mr V.K. Janjua, Deputy Commissioner, said the leaves of all employees had been cancelled and asked to report on duty. He said drinking water and toilet facilities would be provided to the devotees. The sale of liquor has
been banned during the mela. An information centre has
also been set up for the devotees. A circus and a number
of shops have also cropped up near the mela. |
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Kribhco funds coops’ social
work ABOHAR: Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (Kribhco) has decided to construct 50 storage-cum-community centres in the country, seven of them in Punjab. A sum of Rs 21 lakh had been earmarked for this project. This was stated by Mr Chander Pal Singh, chairman of the organisation, in an interview with this correspondent during his visit here early this week. He was accompanied by Mr P.P. Singh, Managing Director, and Mr R.L. Saha, Director (Finance) on his arrival at the area office. Mr Chander Pal Singh, one of the youngest chairmen of Kribhco, said 500 primary cooperative societies had been adopted in the country, of which Punjab had more than 10 per cent share in it. Each society had been given Rs 50,000 for carrying out a facelift, buying furniture, supply of implements, tarpaulins, technical literature on agriculture and providing panels and signboards. Kribhco had earmarked Rs 12.50 lakh for general welfare programmes also for honouring freedom fighters, extending drinking water facilities, construction of bus shelters in rural areas, distribution of sewing machines to widows, aid to the handicapped, providing sports kits in villages and distribution of educational aids and library books, besides farm implements. The chairman said a large variety of promotional and educational programmes were organised to boost agricultural production, rural development and business at cooperative societies during last year. Careful planning involving grassroot workers and near-uniform coverage throughout the country in both kharif and rabi seasons had benefited a large number of farmers and cooperative societies. Mr Chander Pal Singh said Kribhco, incorporated on April 17, 1980, started its marketing activities under seeding programme in 1984. Commercial production of urea was started at its ammonia-urea complex at Hazira near Surat in Gujarat based on natural gas from Bombay High. A bio-fertiliser plant was also installed there of 250 mt capacity. The plant was now producing rhizobium for different legume crops, azotobactor for cereals, cotton, sugarcane, vegetables and phosphate solubiling microbes for phosphorus-rich soils. Kribhco had undertaken a seed multiplication programme in eight states. During 1998-99 Kribhco produced 15.7 mt and sold 15.51 lakh mt of urea in 14 states, besides selling 180 mt Bio-fertilisers and 84680 quintals of certified seed. The chairman said Kribhco’s membership had gone up to 4727. The society had already paid more than Rs 2 crore dividend to member-societies in Punjab alone. With a view to further strengthen the cooperative system, Kribhco was allowing quantity rebate in the shape of share capital against the sale of its urea fertiliser. Stating that DAP fertiliser was a vital ingredient for agriculture, Mr Chander Pal Singh said Kribhco had arranged DAP for farmers of the state during crises as well. He was thankful to Mr Surender Kumar Jakhar, IFFCI Chairman, for his guidance and cooperation in this matter. The organisation was able to supply urea in Punjab as per allocations made under the Essential Commodities Act. As much as 87,700 tonnes of urea was supplied in this year’s kharif. He said Kribhco was well aware of its duties to help the cyclone-affected people in Orissa. Recently a cheque amounting Rs 1 crore was presented to the Prime Minister. Kribhco had developed
the concept of need-based farming and arranged crop
seminars, farmers’ meetings, field days, kisan
melas, field demonstrations, soil-testing campaigns and
group discussions to better the farmers’ economic
conditions by increasing the per acre yield through
modernisation. |
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Zonal festival ends at Samana
college SAMANA, Dec 23 — The three-day zonal youth festival of Patiala zone concluded at Public College here. Earlier, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, had inaugurated the festival. Mr R.S. Chalia, Inspector-General of Police presided on the first day of the festival. Mr Kuldeep Singh Vaid, SDM Samana, was the chief guest in the evening session on the first day. On the second day, Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC, was the chief guest. She laid the foundation stone of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Auditorium at the college. She also announced a grant of Rs 1.25 lakh from the education fund of the SGPC for the development of the college. Besides, she awarded Rs 3,100 each as a prize to every team that participated in the festival. The festival was held at Amardeep Open Air Theatre of Public College, Samana, and 15 colleges affiliated to Punjabi University, Patiala, participated. On the last day, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, Deputy Commissioner, Patiala, presided. Mr Swarn Singh Sodhi, Principal of the college dwelt on the activities the college was pursuing. Public College, Samana, won the trophy for giddha while Khalsa College, Patiala, won the trophy for bhangra. The Government College for Girls, Patiala, won the shabad/group song and orchestra competition. The over all dance
trophy was shared by Public College, Samana, and Khalsa
College, Patiala. |
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Horticulture to get boost in
millennium FARIDKOT, Dec 23 — The Punjab Government has formulated a comprehensive plan to promote horticulture in the new millennium in the state. The Central Government had already allocated requisite funds in this regard, said Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Agriculture Minister, at a press conference here today. The production of wheat and paddy had reached a saturation point and there was need to shift to other cash crops. Mr Badal said four new markets would be set up in big towns for the sale of vegetables and fruits. All related facilities like crates for packing the produce and vehicles to carry it to the markets would be provided. A programme has also been chalked out to export quality fruits and vegetables through the Punjab Agri Export Corporation to various countries. Teams of experts would shortly visit Arab countries to tap markets there. A weather forecast
instrument was being installed at the PAU, Ludhiana, to
get reports a week in advance. The state government had
earmarked Rs 15 crore as subsidy to develop cold storage
network in the state. The Punjab Government would take
its own time regarding the imposition of 4 per cent sales
tax on chemicals, fertilisers, insecticides and
pesticides, as per the proposal of the state ministers'
meeting held at New Delhi recently. |
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Directive
to Punjab on class IV staff wages CHANDIGARH, Dec 23 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the State of Punjab etc that all class IV employees and the employees engaged in work-charged and other such categories be paid wages as a first charge from the funds available with the state government, whereupon salary will be paid to class III employees as a second charge and then to class II employees and finally to class I employees. The above directive was issued by a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice K.K. Srivastava and Mr Justice J.S. Khehar on a writ petition filed by Mr Gurmit Singh and others and on the basis of an assurance given by the Advocate-General of Punjab in the above terms, which was appreciated by the court as "extremely just and fair" as this would ensure that low-paid employees would not have to approach the court for payment of wages. The Bench further ordered that payment of salary shall be ensured in the suggested manner on the last working day of the month and in case under very exceptional circumstances wages payable at the end of month to be withheld, reasons must be recorded by the drawing and disbursing officers concerned or the administrative heads, as the case may be. The petitioners were aggrieved by the omission of the government to pay pensions and salaries to them and also for non-payment of their fixed medical allowance. A large number of employees had earlier approached the court with similar grievances and the court sought the response of the state. Mr Justice M.L. Singhal stayed further proceedings on suits for compensation filed by the persons imprisoned and kept in Central Jails of Amritsar, Nabha and Jodhpur in the wake of Operation Bluestar and allegedly tortured by the respondents, suits presently pending before Mr B.S. Sandhu, Additional Civil Judge, Amritsar. Mr Justice Singhal issued notice of motion to the respondents for January 10 on civil revision petitions filed by the Union of India. The petitioner had earlier raised preliminary objections against the maintainability of the said civil suits filed by Mohinder Singh of Poonch (J&K) and other who had claimed Rs 10 lakh each as damages for unlawful confinement, prosecution and torture etc. The Union of India in
the objections raised before the Additional Civil Judge,
Amritsar, and before the High Court stated that the suits
were not maintainable being barred by limitation and also
in view of the judgement of this High Court in a similar
matter on a PIL filed by Mr Gur Rattan Pal Singh. |
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Probe sought into emigration
scam LUDHIANA, Dec 23 — Mr Jagdev Singh Jassowal, President of the Vishawa Punjabi Sabhyacharak Manch, has demanded a high-level probe into the alleged emigration racket involving several folk artistes. In a statement issued to the press here today, he said it was known that there were a large number of cultural organisations involved in this racket. These organisations were not promoting culture but deriving their own benefits, he said. He said it was surprising that the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) which is supposed to promote culture in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi, was allegedly sending troops to Dubai and Singapore. He wondered why the trips abroad were made when its objective was to promote culture here. Mr Jassowal said that 16 members of a troupe sent to North America by the Department of Cultural Affairs had not returned so far. He demanded that the
passports of certain NZCC officials be scrutinised and
also alleged that some of these officials promoted the
“so called cultural organisation”, so that they
could send their family members on a free trip abroad
when it organised stage shows there. |
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‘Summon Baba Kashmira Singh at
Takht’ AMRITSAR, Dec 23 — Controversy over the issue of Nanakshahi calendar took a new turn as the executive committee of the SGPC in a late night decision today recommended that Baba Kashmira Singh of the Gurmat Sidhant Samaj of Jalandhar be summoned at the Akal Takht for casting aspersions on the supreme body of the Sikhs — the SGPC. The SGPC chief Bibi
Jagir Kaur today crossed swords with the pro-Badal Baba
over the issue of Nanakshahi calendar. Baba Kashmira
Singh while presenting his views at the meeting called by
Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht expressed his
misgivings about the working of the Shiromani Gurdwara
Parbandhak Committee and severely criticised the new
calendar prepared by Mr Pal Singh Purewal which earlier
was accepted by the SGPC. |
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Naib Tehsildar booked KAPURTHALA, Dec 23 — The Sultanpur Lodhi police has registered a case under Sections 7, 8, 9 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act against a Naib Tehsildar of Sultanpur Lodhi on the charge of accepting bribe for registering a sale deed. The case has been registered on the complaint of Mr Harjit Singh, a non-resident Indian, of Model Town locality. In his complaint he alleged that on November 29 he along with Mr Karamjit Singh Thind, a senior advocate, went to the office of Varinder Bhatia, Naib-Tehsildar-cum-Sub-Registrar for the registration of a sale deed of 12-kanals at Kamalpur village in Sultanpur Lodhi. But instead of registering the deed he put off the same without any reason. Mr Harjit Singh said the Naib-Tehsildar registered the sale deed after allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1000 through his agent.
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Mohinder Bir Singh PTU Registrar AMRITSAR, Dec 23 — The Controller of Examinations of Guru Nanak Dev University, Mr Mohinder Bir Singh, has been appointed today as Registrar at Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar. He would replace Mr K.K. Dhir. He worked as Deputy
Registrar in 1983 and was then appointed as Controller of
Examinations in 1992. He has been in the faculty and
administration for the last 31 years. |
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Baba’s
arrest
stayed till Jan ROPAR, Dec 23 — The Sessions Judge, Mr Maghar Khan, here today further stayed the arrest of Baba Piara Singh Bhaniara Wala, head of Dharam Kala Asthan in Dhamana village, about 10 km from here, till January 8 next. Earlier, the Sessions
Judge on December 15 had stated that in the event of the
arrest of the baba, he be released on interim bail till
December 23.The Nurpur Bedi police had registered a case
against the Baba under Sections 342, 365, 506, 323, 148
and 149 of the IPC on a complaint filed by Mr Kamaljit
Singh, a medical practitioner of Bains village on the
Ropar-Nurpur Bedi road, that he was allegedly beaten up
by the baba, his security guards and driver on December
11 at the bus stop of Bains village. |
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17-yr-old boy found dead FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 23 — Sachin (17) was found dead in mysterious circumstances in his house today late evening at Sirhind town. His mother and two sisters, who had gone for shopping found him dead on return from the market. The police suspects the
hand of the labourers who were constructing the road near
his house in the crime. Sachin was only son of his
parents. |
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BSM president calls meeting PHILLAUR, Dec 23 — The Bahujan Samaj Morcha (BSM) national president, Mr Satnam Singh Kainth, has summoned a state-level meeting of the morcha on January 1, at his residence at Suttran village near Banga to finalise the election strategy for Nawanshahr Assembly byelections. This was stated by Morcha’s state general secretary Parveen Banga, here today. Mr Parveen said a
meeting of the morcha would be held at Nawanshahr on
January 2. BSM workers wanted to contest the Nawanshahr
seat on its own because the SAD-BJP government had done
nothing in Punjab. |
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Child
raped SAMANA, Dec 23 — Three youths allegedly raped a two-year-old girl yesterday night at Dhabi Gujran village under the subdivision, 45 km from here. According to her mother, who was at the local Civil Hospital to which here daughter had been admitted, the girl was playing at home before she went missing. She looked for her and found here bleeding in a nearby field. In the meantime, she saw three youths running away after seeing her. She identified two youths, Bholi and Jatti, of the same village. The police has
registered a case under Sections 376 and 34 of the IPC.
Civil Hospital sources said the victim had been referred
to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, in a serious condition. |
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Kapurthala depot seeks more drivers KAPURTHALA, Dec 23 — The shortage of drivers at the local Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation depot has been reportedly causing a loss of more than Rs one lakh daily to the Corporation. The problem was discussed at a meeting of representatives of various roadways employees’ unions held yesterday and brought to the notice of the government the problems being faced by the depot and the financial loss. In a press note Mr Bhajan Singh, general secretary, PRTC Workers Union, here said there, existed 18 vacancies of drivers in the depot and the management of the corporation had ordered the transfer of 14 drivers from this depot to Chandigarh. He added that the plying
of less number of buses on various routes were causing
problems to students and the general public. |
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Gang-rape case registered TARN TARAN, Dec 23 — A Dalit woman was raped by six persons at Shahabpur village on Tuesday. A case under Sections 376, 342 of the IPC was registered in the local sadar police station today. The victim was returning from Patti to her village on the bicycle with her husband Teja Singh. At Shahabpur six persons attacked them. They beat up Teja Singh and raped his wife. The victim was medically examined today. The CPM leader, Mr
Pargat Singh Jamarai, has condemned the delayed police
action. |
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